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Can I work in Michigan with a compact license?

A compact (multistate) license does not currently authorize Michigan practice. Here is why, and the route you actually need.

Can I work in Michigan with a compact nursing license?

No. Michigan is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so compact privilege does not reach it — a multistate license from another state does not authorize practice in Michigan. To work in Michigan you generally need a Michigan license, usually by endorsement.

Last reviewed 2026-06-17

What compact privilege is

A multistate license from your primary state of residence carries compact privilege — the authority to practice in other compact states without licensing separately in each. It only exists between states that are live in the Nurse Licensure Compact.

Why privilege does not reach Michigan

Since Michigan is not part of the compact, there is no Michigan compact privilege to grant. See non-compact states and working in a non-compact state with a compact license.

The law that governs this in Michigan

Working in Michigan on another state’s license is practice in Michigan, so it is Michigan’s own nurse practice act that defines what you may do and the Michigan Board of Nursing (LARA) that applies it. That act is Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, art. 15 pt. 172 (MCL 333.17201 et seq.).

There is no compact statute to cite for Michigan, which is the substantive point rather than a gap in our research: Michigan has not adopted the compact, so the practice act above is the whole of the law that applies to you here.

Confirm before you rely on it

License status changes and the compact evolves. Confirm your own license type on Nursys and check Michigan’s current rules with the Michigan Board of Nursing (LARA). CompactStates.com is an independent guide, not a licensing authority.

Why compact privilege does not reach Michigan

Michigan has not adopted the compact. Either way the practical answer for working in Michigan on a license from another state is the same today: a multistate license from another state does not authorize it, and you generally need a Michigan license from the Michigan Board of Nursing (LARA). Re-check before a start date rather than assuming — this is precisely the fact that changes.

What usually comes next

Next-step checklist

  • Do not rely on a multistate license to practice in Michigan.
  • Open the Michigan Board of Nursing (LARA) to apply for a Michigan license.
  • Plan for endorsement processing time before you start work.
  • Verify your current license status on Nursys.

Frequently asked questions

No. Michigan is not a compact state, so a multistate license does not authorize practice in Michigan. You generally need a Michigan license by endorsement.